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Dalpiaz, MirandaFSEM-Politics of Human RightsProfessor Sun November 7, 2007Globalization from the Human Rights Perspective“Globalization is not something we can hold off or turn off… it is the economicequivalent of a force of nature--like wind or water.”

Bill Clinton makes an important point about globalization; fighting globalizationwould be like fighting the impossible. Instead the problems that globalization createsmust be addressed, and the benefits of globalization must be given to all.The definitions of globalization differ greatly. Even though the term is commonlyused there doesn’t seem to be a widely agreed upon standard definition. For instance theWorld Bank states that globalization is the growing integration of economies andsocieties around the world.

Where as The Bush Administration states that globalizationis the totality and velocity of connections and interactions--be they economic, political,social, cultural--that are sometimes beyond the control or even knowledge of governments and other authorities.

The definition of globalization that will be used hereis that globalization is the integration of nation-states, markets and technologies throughincreasing contact, communication and trade. Trade, communication and contact arecheaper and faster than ever before. The consequence of globalization is the emergenceof a single global system, the process of change (the globalizing effect) binds peopletogether in common faith/political system. The powerful idea behind globalization todayis free-market capitalism. The more generous your country’s market and economicregulations are the more efficient and flourishing your country’s economy will be.

The end of the Cold War wasn’t the start of globalization; it was the beginning of a new period of globalization. International trade increased greatly during the period of globalization from 1820 to 1914. From 1820 to 1914 international trade increased from just 2 percent of the world income to 18 percent. During World War II and the Great

http://www.quotesandpoem.com/quotes/showquotes/author/Bill-Clinton/31849

http://www1.worldbank.org/economicpolicy/globalization/index.html

http://www.state.gov/s/p/rem/5508.htm

Thomas Friedman, The Lexus and the Olive Tree (Anchor Books, New York, 2000) 9.

Depression, the trade (in relation to income) was lower than it had been in 1914. Due toincreased multilateralism, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, andtreaties like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), trade expanded amongindustrialized countries after World War II.

International capital (foreign ownership of assets relative to world income) followed the same pattern as trade. It improved until1914, but international capital didn’t return to the rates it had in 1914 until 1980. Theflow not only increased it changed the things it financed. Before 1914 internationalcapital was used for public projects such as railroads and investment in natural resourcessuch as mining. Now international capital is often used for direct investment inmanufacturing and services.

The main differences between the pre-1914 globalizing period and today’s globalizing period are “the degree and intensity in which the world is being tied together today” and “the sheer number of people and countries able to partake”.

For example in 1900 the daily foreign exchange trading was measured in themillions today it is measured in the trillions.

Today’s period of globalization is on atotally different scale then the period of globalization before 1914. Globalization today istaking the world by storm.Globalization can have a variety of effects on society; it can bring free marketsand democracy to impoverished countries or it can create ethnic tensions and lesssecurity. Even though there are downsides to globalization, the benefits fromglobalization far outweigh the detriments. Many of the benefits and detriments toglobalization concern human rights.For most benefits of globalization there is always a “but”. Globalization isincreasing the quality of life for almost all of the population on earth. But what aboutthose people that aren’t benefiting from globalization. Globalization helps break the boundaries of people possess on the basis of race, gender or religion. But is globalizationcreating a cultural homogeneity. Globalization could be the solution to horrible regimesthat politically and economically suppress their people. But isn’t globalization helping to

David Dollar and Aart Kraay, Spreading the Wealth (America and the World: Debatingthe New Shape of International Politics, New York, 2002) 186.

Ibid. 186-287.

Thomas Friedman, The Lexus and the Olive Tree (Anchor Books, New York, 2000)xvii.

Ibid. xviii.

put into power some of the most corrupt regimes. Globalization is the hope for theworld’s poor to attain the life of their dreams. But will there be enough resources for everyone to attain their high standards of living.

It is about finding a way to mediatethese “buts” while still allowing globalization to produce benefits.Benefits from globalization can be seen nearly everywhere from the Indianrestaurant on the corner and the use of Internet sources to discover what exactly ishappening in Pakistan. Beyond the noticeable everyday examples of benefits of globalization there are many other benefits. One of the benefits to globalization isexplained in the Golden Arches Theory.The Golden Arches Theory states that no two countries with McDonald’s havefought a war against each other since they have gotten their McDonald’s. It excludescivil wars and violent border debates. Thomas Friedman author of The Lexus and theOlive Tree and

New York Times

columnist devised the Golden Arches Theory. He cameupon “The Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention” after extensive travel andresearch. His idea is based on the observation that when a country reaches the economicstage to possess a McDonald’s the nations larger middle class doesn’t want to be fightingwars any more, they want to be making money, spending money and eating atMcDonald’s. A great example is the Middle East. What three Middle Eastern countriesdon’t have McDonalds? Iraq, Iran and Syria. These three nations are engaged in combator are threatening combat with other countries.

McDonald’s is a metaphor for “a larger point about the impact of globalization on geopolitics.”

From the human rights perspective less war results in less chance of loss in political rights and a reduced chanceof atrocities being committed against mankind. Some of the worst human right atrocitieshave been committed during war like for instance the Holocaust, the ethnic cleansing inBosnia and the raping of Nanjing in China.Statistically globalization has done great things for the global population. It has brought more poor people into the middle class faster than any time before and raisedliving standards faster, higher and for more people than ever before. Poverty is on the

Geddes, Pete. “The Benefits from Globalization.” The Bozeman Chronicle 7 January2004. 18 November 2007http://www.free-eco.org/articleDisplay.php?id=378.

Thomas Friedman, The Lexus and the Olive Tree (Anchor Books, New York, 2000)248-249.

Ibid. 252.